Young footballers who sign up to take part in
The Unity Cup in the half-term school holidays in February could
end up representing Peterborough on a national level.
The Unity Cup will take place at Powerleague
in Peterborough Road, Stanground, Peterborough, on Thursday 16
February 2012 from 10am to 4pm. Young people will compete in a
five-a-side competition in two age categories, under 14s and under
16s. It costs £1 to enter and young people can enter individually
or as a team.
The best players from the tournament will be
selected to represent Peterborough Unity Football Club in the
regional qualifiers for a national five-a-side tournament which
will take place in Manchester in May. Those selected will take part
in training sessions with a Peterborough United coach in
preparation for the tournament.
The Unity Youth project is an award winning initiative that
improves youth cohesion in the city through activities that build
links between youngsters from different racial and geographical
backgrounds.
The Unity Football Club was set up in 2002 and
is a joint initiative between Peterborough City Council, Peterborough United Football
Club and the Football Association.
Peterborough United is providing all the
coaching for the team and additional support. The Unity football
team were crowned European champions in 2007.
Councillor
Sheila Scott, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said:
"The Unity Cup is a great opportunity for young people to spend
time with their friends and perhaps make new friends in the
half-term holidays. Those who have a real talent for the game will
be selected to represent Peterborough on a national level later in
the year. If successful they will get a rare opportunity to train
with a Peterborough United coach.
"The Unity Football Club is just one example
of the fantastic work, led by the 8 to 19 service, to integrate and unite
our community."
Darragh MacAnthony, Peterborough United
Football Club chairman, said: “The Unity programme has been running
successfully for several years now and it is a project that the
football club are proud to be involved in again. Unity brings many
different people from different areas of the city together through
a common love of football and we are looking forward to seeing how
they get on in the national tournament.”
Dean Watson, Get Into Football officer for
Huntingdonshire Football Association, said: “Peterborough currently
has a large number of young people playing unaffiliated football
and a competition like the Unity Cup that brings unaffiliated and
affiliated players together is a great thing for these young
players, as it provides them with the opportunity to showcase their
skill and talent whilst at the same time meet other players and
managers from local football clubs.”
Young people have until Friday 10 February
2012 at 5pm to secure a place in the tournament or enter a
team.
For more information call Ibrar Khan on 07920
160105 or email: ibrar.khan@peterborough.gov.uk.
Ends.